Farrell considering dropping Mike Napoli in the batting order

Wednesday

Jul 3, 2013 at 4:36 PM

BOSTON -- After hitting 13 doubles and slugging .529 in the month of April, Mike Napoli has seen his power numbers decline sharply in recent months. He finished the month of June with just two extra-base hits -- one double, one home run -- and has se

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

BOSTON -- After hitting 13 doubles and slugging .529 in the month of April, Mike Napoli has seen his power numbers decline sharply in recent months. He finished the month of June with just two extra-base hits -- one double, one home run -- and has seen his slugging percentage drop to .434 for the season.

That's not what the Red Sox want to see from the hitter who has consistently hit in the No. 5 hole behind David Ortiz, whose 11 intentional walks this season rank him in a tie for first in the American League. Napoli sat out Wednesday night in favor of Mike Carp.

"We're trying to get back to the production that he's showed," Boston manager John Farrell said. "It doesn't have to be to the point of April, but somewhere in between."

It's enough to give Farrell some consideration to dropping Napoli out of that spot in the batting order.

"There's been some thought there," the manager said.

Farrell's problem is that he doesn't have a prime candidate to replace Napoli. Like Napoli, Daniel Nava has seen his slugging percentage decline in every month. The numbers of Jonny Gomes have gone in the opposite direction -- he slugged .522 in June -- but Gomes isn't going to get much playing time against righthanded pitching, not with Carp and Nava as options to play left field.

The struggles -- and demotion to Triple-A Pawtucket -- of Will Middlebrooks have left Farrell without an impact righthanded bat behind Napoli.

"As far as alternatives, I don't have an alternate right-handed hitter for you today," he said.